More former heirs objecting to police officer's inheritance

More expected to contest Webber's new will

PORTSMOUTH — A probate court judge initiated legal proceedings in a dispute over a deceased resident's estate on Wednesday, when it was announced that more of the woman's former beneficiaries will contest the current will, which names a police officer as the prime beneficiary.

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By Elizabeth Dinan

seacoastonline.com

By Elizabeth Dinan

Posted Mar. 28, 2013 at 2:00 AM

By Elizabeth Dinan
Posted Mar. 28, 2013 at 2:00 AM

» Social News

PORTSMOUTH — A probate court judge initiated legal proceedings in a dispute over a deceased resident's estate on Wednesday, when it was announced that more of the woman's former beneficiaries will contest the current will, which names a police officer as the prime beneficiary.

The dispute concerns the estate of Geraldine Webber, who died in December at age 94. According to public records, Webber endorsed a new will and trust on May 2, 2012, leaving Portsmouth police Sgt. Aaron Goodwin her riverfront home, stocks, a bond and a Cadillac.

Attorney Jim Ritzo has filed motions with the county probate court alleging Goodwin "romanced" Webber, who was incompetent when she endorsed her last will and trust after 25 years of having a contrary estate plan. During Wednesday's probate court hearing, Judge Peter Hurd accepted the May 2 will and trust, which was prepared by Hampton attorney Gary Holmes, who is represented by attorney Ralph Holmes.

Procedurally, that means objections will now be accepted and heard by the probate court. The judge announced he will schedule a follow-up structuring conference.

Portsmouth attorney Paul McEachern said earlier this week that he is representing Webber's former friend Barbara Wardwell and local supermarket worker Michael Williams. Wardwell was named as a $10,000 beneficiary in Webber's prior will, but is deleted from the subsequent one. Williams was a $25,000 beneficiary in the prior will, but is unnamed in the will and trust Holmes prepared.

During Wednesday's probate court hearing, McEachern announced he is now also representing Webber's daughter-in-law, Joanne Peterson, and Webber's mentally-disabled grandson, Brett Webber. Both were named as $25,000 beneficiaries of Webber's prior will, but are left out of the new will trust.

In a written statement dated March 6, 2013, provided to the Portsmouth Herald, Peterson said Webber "had dementia" in her last years and that "anyone who talked to her would have known it." Peterson also wrote in her statement that Webber's financial support for her grandson — a small monthly interest check on a certificate of deposit — ended when Webber met Goodwin.

McEachern informed the court Wednesday that he's also representing Webber's friend Betsy Lodge, who was named in Webber's prior will as a $10,000 beneficiary and is not named in the current will. McEachern also told the court he expects to represent Webber's friend Rene Currie, who was named in Webber's 2009 will as a $2,500 heir, but was cut from the last will.

City Attorney Robert Sullivan attended Wednesday's hearing as an observer and told the Herald that no decision has been made as to whether the city of Portsmouth will intervene in the case or object to the current will and trust. Webber's 2009 will left $250,000 each to the Portsmouth Police and Fire departments, while her current will and trust leaves them each $25,000.

Also attending Wednesday's hearing was Manchester attorney David Eby, from the Devine Millimet law firm, who is representing the Sloan Kettering Cancer Research Clinic in New York and the Shriners Hospital for Children in Boston. Eby told the Herald he had no comment about the case.

The will Ritzo wrote for Webber in 2009 stated her assets would be sold and, after her bills were paid, half of the proceeds would go to Eby's clients — the cancer clinic and children's hospital. The new trust gives those parties $25,000 each, about 90 percent less.

Ritzo alleges in probate court records that Goodwin "shopped" Webber's will around to "at least four" lawyers before Holmes took the case. He said he was her lawyer for years and her wishes remained consistent until she asked him to change her estate so she could "leave everything to Aaron."

Ritzo has asked the court to award him a $65,000 payment from Webber's estate for the quarter century he said he worked as her lawyer, but was not paid.

Goodwin provided the Herald with the following statement on Sept. 20, 2012: "The allegations that I exploited a member of our community are completely untrue." With that response, he attached letters from the state Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services, dated June 12 and Sept. 19, 2012, stating that two investigations into complaints of elder exploitation by him regarding Webber were conducted and both were concluded as unfounded.

Before she died, Webber told the Herald in a 25-minute interview that she first met Goodwin when he responded to her home after she called police to report that "members of the nation's gang" were on her property.

"You bet he is," she said when asked whether Goodwin was a beneficiary of her will and trust. "It's my money and my house and I'll do as I (expletive) please."

Six days after Webber died, Goodwin asked the probate court to remove him as co-executor of her estate, citing "conflict — potential litigation."